Beware the Batman - Part 1

[Naked Shia]

Dark ages indeed.

 

[Frico]

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=48704

In a move that will be frustratingly familiar to DC Nation viewers, Cartoon Network has abruptly removed "Beware the Batman" from its Saturday-morning programming block, a little more than three months after its premiere.


The news, which broke early this week on the fan site Nick and More, has been confirmed to CBR News by the network, which issued the following statement: "Currently, 'Beware the Batman' is no longer on our air. DC Nation will continue on Saturday mornings at 10/9c with new exclusive shorts and a full hour of encore episodes of 'Teen Titans Go!'"

The CG-animated "Beware the Batman," in which a younger Bruce Wayne teams with ex-secret Agent Pennyworth and the swordswoman Katana to fight some of the Dark Knight's more offbeat rogues, was originally scheduled to air reruns on Oct. 12 and 19. However, Saturday's episode was supposed to be new: "Attraction," featuring the return of Magpie.
Asked earlier this week on Twitter about reports of the shuffle, Batman voice actor Anthony Ruivivar said the series is on hiatus until January. But last night his response fell more in line with the official statement: "[Cartoon Network] is currently not airing new episodes. Stay tuned and thanks for your continued support."

Fans undoubtedly will recall that Cartoon Network abruptly pulled "Young Justice" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" from its DC Nation lineup in October 2012, purportedly to make room for 20th-anniversary celebration programming. Following viewer outcry on Twitter and Facebook, the cable channel quickly announced new episodes would resume in January.
Of course, that season didn't end happily for either series: Just weeks after their return to the lineup, Cartoon Network released its 2013-14 schedule, which listed "Teen Titans Go!" and "Beware the Batman" in their place.

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Yep... Cartoon Network's official statement on the matter:

Currently, Beware the Batman is no longer on our air. DC Nation will continue on Saturday mornings at 10/9c with new exclusive shorts and a full hour of encore episodes of Teen Titans Go!

Doesn't really sound too good does it?

DC Nation has really become a wasteland. The odd brand new short (which varies in quality) and re-runs of Teen Titans Go!. That show gets the luxury of a primetime premiere.

I think I read somewhere that DC Nation was comissioned for up to 2 years initially... Could CN pull the block entirely in the Spring?

 

[Teelie]

It sounds like to me there is some kind of tug-of-war going on over how to proceed with the DC Nation block.

 

[jacobed]

The game was leaked and some of the details about the ending were revealed, and it turned out to be awful.

I'd rather not derail the thread, but you may find more in the thread:

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=465817

Um that's not the ending. Not even close. Like no just no

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Barry McWilliams (the animator who gave us hope for a second season) gave some updates a while ago on his twitter:

Starting my last week at Warner Bros Animation on #BewareTheBatman. Granted it's my 4th or 5th last week at WB, so I may return...

Being at WB has been great, esp. since @HoS_Burbank is so close. Where will I go next week, if I'm done on #BewareTheBatman?

Last day at WB on #BewareTheBatman & who's leaving early? Not me

Thanks but I’ve wrapped on Bat. Looking for BG/AE work.

Sounds like the team are starting to move on and coupled with Sam Liu's recent tweet, it all doesn't sound too good:

So the hopes of a renewal for a second season are now gone?

or are there still chances that CN orders a new one?

There's always a possibility but getting a little late to have some done by next year.

A real shame...

 

[Teelie]

That sadly does sound rather final.

 

[Drz]

(((((

 

[Drz]

So umm how are we gonna see the last episodes if ever?

 

[AndrewGilkison]

Are the ratings for the show bad or is the toy line not selling well?

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

So umm how are we gonna see the last episodes if ever?

CN will burn them off in the spring no doubt... they won't let them sit on the shelves. They spent the money to make them so they'll air them.

Are the ratings for the show bad or is the toy line not selling well?

The ratings have been average but consistent for a saturday morning cartoon. I believe the highest it's ever rated was ''Control'' with 1.52 million. It's worth noting, however that it's been rating lower than Young Justice and Green Lantern.

There is no toyline... and it doesn't look like there will be one.

All we have merchandise wise is one action figure which is being marketed as an adult collectible and an underwhelming Happy Meal promotion.

 

[AndrewGilkison]

The ratings have been average but consistent for a saturday morning cartoon. I believe the highest it's ever rated was ''Control'' with 1.52 million. It's worth noting, however that it's been rating lower than Young Justice and Green Lantern.

There is no toyline... and it doesn't look like there will be one.

All we have merchandise wise is one action figure which is being marketed as an adult collectible and an underwhelming Happy Meal promotion.

Kind of surprised about the lack of a toyline. I assumed it was standard fare for any cartoon these days, especially one starring a big time corporate asset such as Batman. I'm also kind of surprised it's rating lower than a Green Lantern show.

Is the lack of iconic villains like Joker, Catwoman, Bane, etc the reason for this?

 

[Pfeiffer-Pfan]

Kind of surprised about the lack of a toyline. I assumed it was standard fare for any cartoon these days, especially one starring a big time corporate asset such as Batman. I'm also kind of surprised it's rating lower than a Green Lantern show.

Is the lack of iconic villains like Joker, Catwoman, Bane, etc the reason for this?

The lack of toyline for a Batman cartoon is downright shocking... Batman toys SELL. Perhaps potential buyers/Mattel felt the show didn't present viable foundation for toys... Unknown villans, a female sidekick and Alfred doesn't exactly scream variant action figures. Who knows??

I think the ratings are more due to the timeslot, upset Young Justice fans (who won't watch out of principle) and a block that is surrounded by re-runs on a Saturday morning.

 

[Drakepool]

The lack of toyline for a Batman cartoon is downright shocking... Batman toys SELL. Perhaps potential buyers/Mattel felt the show didn't present viable foundation for toys... Unknown villans, a female sidekick and Alfred doesn't exactly scream variant action figures. Who knows??

I think the ratings are more due to the timeslot, upset Young Justice fans (who won't watch out of principle) and a block that is surrounded by re-runs on a Saturday morning.

And lack of promotion on CN's part. -_-

 

[GamerSlyRatchet]

So umm how are we gonna see the last episodes if ever?

Maybe iTunes will slip up and release "Attraction" and "Fall" due to being behind of schedule?

 

[Drz]

Please!!!!

 

[Gold Samurai]

So umm how are we gonna see the last episodes if ever?

Maybe another country doesn't get the memo in time and airs an episode this Saturday?

Are the ratings for the show bad or is the toy line not selling well?

The toy line was non existant as Pfeiffer-Pfan pointed out. It was the first bad sign.



No huge tie in merchandise = no outside income


Since this was a CGI show it didn't come cheap(empty city streets and barely any citizens)


Shows like Transformers Prime and TMNT 2012 have merchandise to keep it afloat.



The Colorado shooting was also a factor. Guns were replaced with laser pistols. Maybe CN got scared with all the recent shootings?

 

[ThreadPool]

Cartoon Network is chicken **** anyway.
It's abundantly obvious that they only wish to cater to the comedy audience.
TTG gets primetime premieres AND now we get an hour of reruns in place
of BtB? Thanks for nothing.
Seriously, screw them for that.

 

[The Shape]

The series was just finding it's groove. This is whack.

 

[MrWayne]

first no movie skin packs for Arkham Origins... Now this??? Depressing

 

[Primal Slayer]

WB needs to find a different network to air their DC toons on. While I didn't watch BotB since they screwed YJ over, it is ridiculous that they are back to the same tricks.

 

[ThePowerCosmic]

I'm not disappointed by this...maybe it's because I was really into this show like that anyway, but I also think YJ's cold cancellation numbed me toward CN's wickedness.

 

[Sawyer]

This is why I don't watch superhero animated series anymore. I don't trust these damn networks they're airing on.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

With the most recent successes, and the overall amount of cash DC properties bring into it's coffers why the hell doesn't WB treat them with some more Zod-damned respect on TV!? I mean... (sigh) Ok, no crying over spilt milk.

Still, with the way that CN has been generally these last few years I say it's time to start up a drama/action focused spinoff cable channel. It's obvious that they want to focus on quirky comedic animated programming. Fine. Nothing wrong with that. But especially for any DC programming, this is not the place. Just create a network called TOONAMI, have all the classic action toons and a few primetime original offerings to start out with, and keep MOA the hell away (outside of reruns of the unkillable Ben 10 franchise, since somebody is watching that, though Zod knows why!). Have a place where the Lauren M.'s and Joachim S.'s of modern American animation can run wild with original action/dramas or work with WB/DC established franchises, maybe even give them low season orders but have hour long broadcast times... What ever, I am tired of only having one great English language action/drama toon to watch now (LEGEND OF KORRA).

 

[MagnarTheGreat]

No more BTB?

Doesn't seem promising.

Nothing else worth caring about on that network outside Toonami.